Guitarist needs help buying a bass!!!

[Ash Telecaster]

Hi, let me say a huge thanks in advance for any advice you are willing to take the time to give!!!


I know guitars and their relative values pretty well but I am some what ignorant when it comes to basses. I have about $400 to spend and want to get a decent fretless if it's possible.

I found I don't like the faux fret lines so that is important to me.

I have been scanning ebay and have a couple possibilities to discuss but I am open to all suggestions.

This is an Ibanez SR400FL. I suspect it is over priced. I have heard good things about Ibamez basses but there doesn't seem to be a 400 series product anymore for a quality comparison.

Ibanez SR400FL

This one is a Dean. I know Dean is a fairly large manufacturer but I don't know anything about thier products especially their basses. It sure looks nice!

Dean Edge 4

This one is a parts bass. Looks like it has good hardware but the body is beat.

Parts Jazz Bass

This one looks nice but is sooooo cheap it just has to be garbage...doesn't it? It is a five string too which I think is cool.

Douglas 5 String

[Telesavalis]

Look for a used MIM Fender Jazz. Great basses for the money and you should be able to find one for $350-400.

[Ash Telecaster]

Originally Posted by Telesavalis

Look for a used MIM Fender Jazz. Great basses for the money and you should be able to find one for $350-400.

Thanks Tele, I was looking at those but they all have the faux frets. That may seem like a very minor detail but it bugs me when playing. I feel much more comfortable on a plain neck.

It's been difficult to find a fretless without the fony fret lines for a reasonable price. There must be cost factor there. There seems to be plenty of expensive basses made that way.

[Northerntele]

If it weren't for the lines I would have said MIM fretless too. They're great basses for the money. As it is I would definitely pass on the douglas and probably go for the parts bass

[Ash Telecaster]

Thanks NT, I was leaning that way. Or getting a squire and buying a Migthy Mite neck. I see those going for about $99.

[cband7]

Roll your own...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Xavier...ars_c_362.html


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[Ash Telecaster]

Those look awfully nice but I have to ask the question, can they possibly be any good at that price?

It would definitelty come in at the right price.

Have you ever tried one of these?

I realize this is going to be a Fender Friendly site, for good reason and I like Fenders, but are the Ibanez and Dean not really any good?

$400 is not a lot to budget for a decent instrument. I can spend more if I don't mind getting a divorce.

[SamClemons]

I buy, sell, and trade all the time. For a similar quality bass, you are going to pay a little more than what you would for the same guitar. At least that is my experiance. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of Fretless basses at bargain bassment prices. They are hard to sell. USA Peaveys are often good buys. I am real fond of G& L.

From Cleveland OH Craigslist, nice Peavey...can you sandout or remove the fret markers...I would want them. http://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/2805246569.html Same bass is on ebay

This guy has his Warwick for sale, has been for a long time, might take 400 http://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/2815613351.html

If your real fast you might get this one, nice bass...http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-FENDER-...item20c1c24561

I like this ... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Washburn-Tau...item46008e3054

[Ash Telecaster]

Thanks Mr Twain!

The thing that pops out at me most is that Warwick! I'm going to shoot him an offer!

I don't want to chance sanding the neck on the Peavey though it looks like a great deal. Do you think it would take a standard P bass replacement neck?

That Fender neck is awesome but pushes my over all cost up to high.

I saw that washburn. It looks awful nice! Still at a real low price too. I'll have to keep my eye on that one!

Again, thank you!!!

[Ash Telecaster]

I stopped in at GC and they did actually have the fretted version of the SR400 bass.....what a major piece of cr@p. Some of the Ibanez basses were beautiful and reasonably priced but that particular bass was utter garbage.

[Trow]

Originally Posted by githead

This one is so cheap it just has to be garbage...doesn't it? It is a five string too which I think is cool.

Douglas 5 String

The bassist in my church has a four string fretless sx that is amazing. I've only had the chance to play it unplugged but from whatII recall it was a great instrument.

[Ash Telecaster]

Thanks Trow, it just looks too good to be true!

I took a chance and bought the Dean. I'll probably be kicking myself for it but I joined a bass forum to get some more opinions and they talked up that bass a lot. I guess I'll find out if they are maniacs or not!

That Douglas is so cheap I could almost buy that one too. One thing I have taken away from this though is there are some really nice Fender bodies floating around out there that are at real good prices. If I can stumble across a deal or two on a neck I might be owning a couple basses!

[Chud]

Hope you enjoy the Dean! That Douglas is frickin' beautiful though. Might have to think about that myself!!